Where does the food on the Albanian table come from? Italy and Greece account for over a third of food imports
Albania imported 11 billion lek of food products during February, with the market heavily reliant on a limited number of supplying countries. Data by country show that Italy remains the main partner of the Albanian imported table with around 2.4 billion lek, followed by Greece with 1.5 billion lek.
These two countries alone account for 35.6% of total food imports for the month. They are followed by Serbia with 724 million lek, Germany with 555 million lek, Turkey with 430 million lek and Poland with 378 million lek. In total, the six main suppliers cover 54.6% of February's food imports, indicating high market concentration.
But the picture does not end with the ranking by total. The figures show that each country brings a different product profile to Albania.
Italy dominates especially in processed products and beverages. The largest items from this market are beverages, alcohols and vinegars with 389.9 million lekë, preparations made from cereals, flour, starch or milk with 320.1 million lekë, as well as coffee, tea and spices with 281 million lekë. This shows that Italy's weight is not simply related to basic goods, but to a strong segment of processed foods and products with higher commercial value.
Greece has a different profile. It appears much stronger in products related to daily consumption and the fruit and vegetable segment. From Greece come mainly preparations of vegetables, fruits and nuts with 345.9 million lek, edible fruits and nuts with 258.4 million lek and edible vegetables with 113.9 million lek.
Serbia strongly supports the segment of basic goods and the agri-food chain, with a large weight in cereals with 161.7 million lek, waste and returns from the food industry with 159.1 million lek, and beverages with 131.5 million lek.
Germany comes out stronger in vegetables with 147.4 million lek, in dairy products, eggs and honey with 89 million lek, and in cocoa and cocoa preparations with 76.8 million lek.
Turkey, on the other hand, has a prominent profile in cereal preparations with 139.9 million lek, in vegetables with 63.5 million lek, and in cereals with 58.8 million lek.
Meanwhile, imports from Poland are concentrated especially in preparations made from cereals, flour, starch or milk with 96.4 million lek, in various edible preparations with 77.1 million lek, in sugars and sweets with 72.8 million lek and in cocoa and cocoa preparations with 71.5 million lek. So, Poland is strongly entering the segment of processed products, sweets and industrial foods.
In a broader sense, February food imports are dominated by several main commodity groups. First and foremost are preparations made from cereals, flour, starch or milk. They are followed by beverages, alcohol and vinegar, cereals, edible fruits and nuts and various edible preparations.
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